A heavy downpour had come while we were back on our way to the Precinct. The consistent pittering on the rooftop came to great relief; it was quiet and the air was still within the car. Something was different though, Officer Judy Hopps was much more alive now. She still didn't talk, she still didn't talk to me, maybe was she embarrassed about what I may have seen? I saw her, lying in bed with her old partner, Nick Wilde. Her eyes were closed, her mouth was content, and her attitude was appeased, sleeping like a baby. She seemed so peaceful, she seemed so happy just to be in his embrace; albeit he was still comatose, he looked as though he was cradling her in his arm, or maybe she had done that in her sake, I don't know…
Nicole lied on her back, her mind going a past the speeding limit and her brain putting on a blind eye to her mind's freedom. In other words, her mind spun freely, excitedly remembering the details and advent episodes of the day. Her body seemed to spin counterclockwise to the dextral spin of the ceiling fan above. She felt numb to her bed beneath her, and numb to the chill that kissingly piqued her fur to slightly ruffle. Even the entrancing sounds of the rain outside decided to allow her ears to take a break so her mind could freely roam.
And roam it did.
It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen. Judy loved him, she loved him through the pain, through the accident, and through the depressive halcyon that comatose is. No matter what though, she declared no act of forfeit. She showed no sign of wavering; she trudged through the quicksand of defeat and acquiescence, but kept her head held high and her eyes piercing with confidence and determination. I have never seen such a powerful force of will and infatuation before. This power, this relentless soul that took haven in the meticulously brave bunny, it burned at high capacity for that fox…
Nicole now seemed to stare pass the ceiling fan, her eyes focused on something far, far away. For once she actually heard herself breathe; a blissfully interested exhale warranting a cloud of condensation from her muzzle. She thought some more, her current hypothesis on how society and how relationships worked and should work clashed with the reality of how real life is.
Her mind's gears found a new cog, and thus engaged it.
A bunny and a fox… together… in love? Isn't that taboo? That was heavily ridiculed and civilly illegal like 50 years ago… that just isn't right: a fox, who is a predator, and a bunny, a prey, being together. Don't even make any sense! But… if it is so, if it doesn't make any sense, and if it is taboo, then why do she have a legitimate connection with him. Why do her heart and soul flutter in his presence? Why is she at peace being in love with him then? Do they not care about what the public thinks? Do they not care that they're of different species and classification?
They don't care.
She doesn't care, that stubborn, passionate rabbit.
Nicole eyes twinkled as she turned her head towards the moon as it peeked from a cloud. The window's medium refracted the pewter sheen of the moon's gaze and its light filled the room, and then its light filled Nicole's chatoyant eyes as she became enlighten within. Her parents, they've always told her what was right. They always known right, right? Wrong. Love is universal, love is true, and love is infinite, no matter who, what you are, and what you prefer to eat.
Judy's love is true, her love is infinite, and her love is for that fox. It doesn't matter what anyone else think! And that's the beauty of it, it's so personal, it's so unique, it's so beautiful and brave!
I wonder if I could ever find such love…
Nicole eyes fluttered as the epiphany of just how sleepy she truly was encompassed her.
I do wonder though, how is this 'Nick Wilde' like in person… Just what about him is so invigorating to inspire limitless love that transverses stigmatized stereotypes about love and who/how to love. Just what prodigious quality do Nick possess that is so inviting? I wonder…
Sleep cradled Nicole sweetly as a mother would a babe, and slowly sleep enveloped her tiresome mind. The air remained chilled like a January morning. The light of pewter remained its watchful vigil over the lynx as her breathing slowed and her fluffy paws gripped the various satin pillows on her bed in her slumber.
The ingénue then, slept like a baby.
Tomorrow, Nicole will wake up just a bit less naive than she was before.
(-)
"You got this fox. You are strong. You are smart. This is just a bit of money flow. Just buckle up and do your job!" The fox's eyes looked up and down himself in the tangible, degrading, infra dig costume that he reluctantly wore. Upon his head was a hat that sported di-hue stripes of pumpkin and marigold, and to ensure his indignation and embarrassment for the uniform, an oversized muffin sat on top of his hat by a small spring. With each movement the muffin danced on top of his head and rode his hat like a rodeo. His shirt had the same color scheme as his hat, but fortunately his bottoms weren't as ugly; the fox wore khaki cargo shorts. Though embarrassing to wear, the fox kept the uniform clean and sharp as though he had work at two and had a mob boss to meet after work.
The fox grimaced down at his uniform in the mirror with distaste souring his mouth. He swept his hand against his khaki shorts and made sure every last bit of his uniform was well, uniform and sharp, despite how much he wanted to light it a-blaze. The fox rolled a lint roller along his sleeves and grabbed his nametag before taking a glance at his watch. "Crap! I'm going to be late!" After grabbing his keys from the front of his van, the fox then barged through the barnyard doors of his van, slamming them shut behind himself, and then raced across the street towards his job.
The fox sprinted straight across the street, somehow forgetting all about crossing a street safely, and for a reward for his idiocy, cries of blaring horns ricocheted in his ears like bullets made by firecrackers and cymbals. The tiny fox growled as he booked it from one side of the street to the other. Once cleared of the black pavement he then turned down the sidewalk and continued to run.
He rushed past the upper-middle class patrons of the city, their egotistic muzzles pointed towards the sky in their own self-pride, sipping on their overpriced coffees and teas, snacking on tarts and pastries, the tiny fox couldn't get how anyone could conform to such aristocracy. Society sure does know how to separate the bourgeoisie from the hood. Ain't no 'Snarlbucks' in the ghetto. The fox thought as he push past another sweater-clad couple.
His eyes saw his workplace just past the flower shoppe and started to slow down and fix his fur. He pulled his fur from his face to his ears before he made his appearance. No matter how much he hated the job, he felt like it was his duty to look well whenever the single moms come in to get their precious, usually chubby children sweet, cinnamon doused treats. Suddenly, without any type of warning, a woman opened the wide door of the flower shoppe open, basically knocking the fox's hat right off his head, and sending him stumbling.
"Dammit lady, can't you see I'm walking here?!"
"Oops!" Nicole squatted down and helped pick up the little fox's hat from the ground. "Oh, I'm so so sorry," Nicole's gleaming eyes gazed at the name tag of the little fox. "Finnick… Here let me help." She handed the hilarious hat to Finnick and smiled.
Finnick looked up and down the lynx in a slight, guarded curiosity. She was pretty, she had eyes like a goddess, a fur the color of gold and the shadows of the night, a body so luscious; she was basically the whole package. Finnick looked up her up one more time before snatching his hat and placing it on his head and turned away. "Yeah, whatever, sorry for your loss." He then walked away and entered the donut shop the next shop down.
"...Your loss?" Nicole asked silently, she looked confused as to why he would say that before she then lifted her left hand to reveal that she was still holding a beautiful bouquet of poppies, sunflowers, peonies, and gladiolas.
(-)
What am I even going to say to him?
Nicole drove down the bypass, soft jazz music playing in her car, the coolness of the A/C unit chilling her skin beneath her fur, she was utterly relaxed. The afternoon sun peeked through the spotted sky, its warming rays curious. The cars zoomed by on her left as she drove the slow lane. She flowers to her right filled her nostrils with the soothing fragrance of its aureate perfume. Today is turning out to a beautiful day.
Her Spottyfly radio then tuned to another song, and supplementary a melodious, rich, debonair voice swaggered through the speakers of Nicole's car. A smile grew upon her face and a satisfied sigh escaped her lovely lips. Her whiskers trembled in happiness. Her heart fluttered at the handsome voice that is Jerry Vole.
The symphonious arrangement of music and sound filled, no, inundated the cabin of the car as Nicole drove. The sounds of the instruments and the lilt tone of Jerry Vole's voice gave Nicole such a feeling…
What am I going to say?
Is this even right? Oh,... Judy would kill me if I visited him alone. No… no… she wouldn't right? I'm just paying my zealous faith that he'll heal heavenly, no trifling incentives here.
I am curious though, about him. He must be very important. I must meet him, he could perhaps, once he awaken, propel me to my dreams; I can be one of the greatest Zootopia has ever seen. From what I've heard it was him, the ex con, who have helped Judy reach the heights that she reigns now. So, it would only make sense to meet him.
After she got done rationalizing her motivations to see Officer Wilde, she then turned off the bypass and drove to the stop light about a mile away from the exit ramp. She sat there at the stop light and reflected on how Judy acted like when she mentioned Nick while they were going to visit him the first place. She remembers that Judy was absolutely distraught at the mentioning of his, Nicole suggests that it was because she have grown so close to him, and that she blames herself heavily for the predicament that he is in now. How much love does it take to make someone want to preserve everything of the loved one, so much so that their name even becomes a sacred memento? How much love did that fox show that bunny?
The music began to fade out, insinuating at another song is about to play, and in its decrescendo of harmony and sound, Nicole's own heart began to sink and decline in liveliness, not at the fact that one of her favorite songs of Jerry Vole was ending, nor was it that she missed his handsome, mellifluous voice already, but instead because the realization that she herself have never felt a sempiternal, devout passion for anyone as Judy had for Nick, and vice versa. She began to wonder what it felt like to be in Judy's position. She wondered how it may feel to be loved to no end. She wondered and wondered, what if she was in Judy's shoes. Perhaps then she could understand this amount of love.
Nicole never knew this type of love before. She, at twenty-one, never knew this amount of affection and desire and passion. And her naive mind was already being molded by the ways of Zootopia, showing her the ropes, pointing out the sky and the ground beneath to show her the possibilities that this massive city can procure, showing her the truth within.
Nicole stood in the elevator and listened to its soft, monotonous rhythm. The hum of the elevator, the monotonous sound of the music, the crinkling of the plastic that Nicole held to that bundled the flowers safely, and finally the sound of blood pulsating in her ears, her mind felt like it was about to explode from the slight anxiety and the over-encompassing, irrelevant sounds that whispered in her ears. She doesn't even know why she got dressed up so cutely. She feels like deep down she wanted to make a great impression to Nick, but of course, since that he's in comatose, the outfit was wasted. "But it never hurts to look pretty." Argued the lynx within herself.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding.
The sound of the large aluminum doors opening along a track sounded next.
Seventh floor, time to say hello…
Nicole walked slowly down the linoleum corridors towards 34B, her canines biting down on her lip the whole way. The pitter patter of her soft paw pads against the shiny ground echoed gracefully. The air smelled of a soft lemony scent. The air was a bit warm, but tolerable. Nicole closed in on Nick Wilde's door and froze.
I'm here… Her eyes stared at the worn brass handle as though she was trying to telekinetically operate the handle with her mind. Just have to open the door… Slowly, her free hand grasped the handle and applied pressure until the handle went all the way down to its full open position. Slowly, she then opened the door and pushed her way in.
The afternoon light filled the room though the tall, tan shades that shielded the windows. The warm light that passed through the shades lit the room passionately. Nicole could see the speckles of dust that swam in the still air. The room gave her a homey feel that tugged at her face to smile and her body to relax. The room smelled slightly of cinnamon, a tiny kiss of cologne, blueberries, and souring flowers. Together, the room smelled like home.
The now relaxed lynx then took a few steps into the room and closed the door behind her. She felt a trickle of goosebumps slither down her back as she watched Nick from across the room. His body was mostly still save for the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed softly and slowly. The minute beeps and the almost subtle groan of the fan above was the music of the room. It was so silent.
What do I say?
Part of her dared not to walk any further, but the more curious side of her, the part that wanted to know who this Nick Wilde was, persuaded her feet to take a few more step towards him. Nicole gazed at his face, her beautiful eyes graced over every feature, not missing a single strand of fur as though she was looking for ticks. It felt so odd to finally be next to the officer that helped save Zootopia, became such of an important character to the ZPD, and a changer of lives to Judy Hopps. She felt as though perhaps she could absorb some of the greatness that he was through just sheer brainpower. She was under the notion that he was kind of a hero, and that was at least to say intriguing by the lynx's standards.
As she watched him she could definitely admit one thing: the fox, Nick Wilde, is one handsome fellow…
Nicole tore her eyes off of him and held up the flowers that she brought and presented it to him. "I brought some flowers… I don't know what good it'll do though, not like you can smell them or anything… or can you?" Nicole smiled mischievously and put the bountiful bouquet up to his muzzle, so close in fact that a couple flowers actually slightly was sucked towards his nose and was blown back outwards as though the flowers were caught in a breeze. Nicole giggled childishly before retracting the flowers and placing the collection into a beautiful vase that stood on a nightstand next to the bed. She removed the old bouquet and replaced it with her own.
Nicole looked at the vase and humorously eyed the small car fragrance tree that hung around the neck of the vase. "That's cute…" Nicole murmured to herself before placing the vase back down and slowly walking back to the bed.
She then began to walk around the room, a Jerry Vole song being played by a persistent earworm, and so she began to hum the melody of the song that she listened to in the car by the rich-voiced troubadour. She paced around the room as she tried to figure out what to say to the downed officer as she hummed aloud the catchy melodies of the song.
(-)
Judy drove into the visitor parking of the Fine Feather Hospital (Hospital of Zootopia). She parked in a space out of the sun and once she parked she brought down the vanity mirror so she could get a good look at herself. She reached into the back seat, retrieved a bunny sized face-rag, and then opened the half empty water bottle that sat patiently in the cup holder. She damped the rag with the water and then quickly, but thoroughly, wiped her exposed fur, mainly her face, with the rag to clean herself up. Once satisfied, she then bounced out of the patrol car and made her way to the front entrance of the hospital, a grand, happy smile on her face and a pep in her hop.
Today's turning out to be a great day.
(-)
Music.
Music, is that music?
Ears became attentive to the sound, the sound of someone around the unexpectant listener. Eyes rolled towards the direction of the song. Muscles twinged in attempt to move towards the sound.
That tune, that melody, it sounds just like Jerry Vole. The Velvety Pipes of Jerry Vole…
Who is making that noise? Who's humming a track from Jerry Vole? Sounds female…
(-)
Nicole returned back to Nick's side, her humming filling the room with Jerry Vole's melodies. His song vibrated through the air by Nicole's throat, and thusly the room felt just a bit more alive and esprit. Nicole looked down at the fox. The more you look at him, the more captivating he really is. Judy must feel pretty darn proud to have a partner like him. I sure would love to be in her place sometimes, I mean… She finished the song by voice, this time letting her soft, ingenuous voice carry the remaining tune of the song.
As her voice sweetly lilted the room's air, she then watched the sleeping fox with a new expression, something along the lines of romantic and intrigued. Well… Sleep tight Officer Nick Wilde, I'll see you some other day. I may as well get out of here…
Just as her eyes blinked its lavish lashes.
Just as her hand reached out for his face.
Just as her mind, saturated in excitement at her bit of innocent flirting with the sleeping, handsome vulpine, became much apparent of Nicole's developing feelings.
The door to Nick's room opened.
And then
Nick's eyes slowly opened.
(-)
Dear Reader, are you enjoying the story so far? I'd love to see more reviews, it really encourages me to continue and point the story in better directions. Anywho, see you next chapter.
